Since the Dominican Republic is Port of Call for all the mayor Cruise Ships, the trade of Ship Chandler becomes more important every Season.

For to see how this business works PUERTOS visited one of the Leader Multi Tech Services LTD, also found on Internet under www.sdq-shipchandler.com

Early morning 4 a.m. the Almacen of the company is busy. Truckloads of fresh Fruits and Vegetables are brought direct from the fields in the Cibao, Constanza and Barahona to be treated, cleaned and packed by Multi Tech Services local workforce of 50 helper. Purchasing Officer Andres Jesus Payan supervises the unloading, checking the quality of the products, bought for the floating Five Star Hotels – the Cruise Liners – who receive only export quality 1 A grade.

"We have contracts for the whole Season with Growers for items like Pineapple, Honey Dew Melon, Canteloupe Melon, Tomatoes and Cucumbers for which we have given quantities" says Payan "a selected Grower knows what we expect and delivers only the best quality!" He grins " Or he delivers never again!!"

Growers are happy to have such a Client as Multi Tech Services says Jose Gonzales "I deliver during six month per week up to 10 tons of Pineapple, and get paid when we unload!"

Vegetable is arriving now at 4.30 a.m. from Condtanza, we can se eggplants, Broccoli, Zucchini, Leek, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrots and Onions, beautiful Products of the Dominican Republic.

Kurt Schollenberger Swiss origin and twenty year resident in the Dominican Republic, owner of SDQ-Shipchandler, founded in 1980, is proud of his Workforce "Our People are been trained to fulfill the highest standard required for this trade. Not one Fruit or Vegetable of minor quality is been found in our Export Cartons."

And this is shown by the impressive List of Clients: CS/AIDA, MS/ARKONA, Thompson’s TTS /TOPAZ, Louis Cruise Lines MS/ THE EMERALD, the Festival Cruise Line MS/BOLERO and MS/FLAMENCO, the Premier Cruise Lines MS/ ISLAND BREEZE, the Holland-America Line MV/STAATENDAM, MV/VISTAMAR and MV/WESTERDAM, MV/TRITON, Nouvelle Frontiers MV/VAN GOGH, Hapag Lloyd’s MV/COLUMBUS, MV/BERLIN. Also a very big Customer is the Ferry MV/REGAL VOYAGER as well as small Sailing Vessel as Schooner HARVEY GAMAGE, and numerous Cargo Vessels.

At 7 a.m. the distribution manager Juan Bautista Martinez has the saying up to ten trucks have to be loaded for the different vessel’s of the day. "Sometimes we have four Ships who want their fresh foods all at the same time. Interesting it is when, we deliver to Puerto Plata, Romana and Santo Domingo on the same Day".

"The timing is all, the most Vessels have Containers in transit with frozen Meat and diary and dry goods produced to favorable prices in Europe and the United States. Therefore we have to deliver to the exact time given, in order not to interrupt the flow of loading the Cruise Liner."

Three Years of experience let him feel when to send the loaded trucks to their destination at the different harbors, not to be caught in a traffic jam or on days of festivities.

"Of course Chlorine, Sulfuric Acid, Freon, and refilling of different gases we order days ahead of schedule. In Sans Souci and Puerto Plata we deposit this material in our Container, only to be delivered after foods" says Martinez "And then are the orders a Chief Engineer or a Chief Purser has for the Day. Find this or search that and our prerogative is to fulfill al the wishes.

We are the Representative of the Dominican Republic for this huge floating Hotels, who leave on the same day. We have to do everything that these People are happy here in the Dominican Republic and eventually return for the next Season."

The SDQ-Shipchandler Multi Tech Services LTD understands itself as the Showcase of Dominican Products and is in continuos search of producers and products of high standard to prove to this hospitality companies the availability of skilled works comparable to European and American quality.

"It is not only a fact, that we sponsor growers with high quality seeds for special herbs, like Dill, purple Basil, Estragon, Thyme, Sage, Fennel and Mint, but we are also growing in our own Farm

Specialties ordered three month before a ships first call" says Kurt Schollenberger, who knows the Haciendas from Barahona to Monte Cristy and from Mao to Monte Plata and Hyguey. Constantly in the search of the best this country can give he is always on road with his driver in his Chevy Van who is equipped as office including telecommunication, Computer and Printer.

At 8 a.m. we are now at the Port of Sans Souci. Kurt presents the Papers and Invoice to the Port Authority and to Customs, which are, prepare to be on the spot when the trucks with fresh Dominican fruits and vegetable are delivered.

A black Toyota with cooling system backs up to the stern port. Jose Francisco Vasquez (Metaldom) delivers the night catch of Mahi Mahi, Blue Marlin, Kingfish and Grouper to the executive chef of the CS/ARKONA. The 345 lbs. of fresh fish will be presented on the next day as a fish B-B-Q to the 550 passenger of this trip. Metaldom is laughing "When I delivered the first Blue Marlin, as usual we cut tail and peek – no use for this – Kurt went furious. Now I now it better, every fish has to be fresh from the sea with everything on it. Lobster I have to deliver live."

A short talk to the purchasing officer of MV/ARKONA asking for special last calls (order 100 lbs. Strawberry 100 lbs. Cherry Tomatoes) and Kurt is on its way to Port of Don Diego, informing by mobile phone Andres what is needed, and hurries to the MV/FLAMENCO with its 950 passenger. Already waiting to place an order of 400 lbs. Butter and 70 Gallons of ice cream on this Sunday morning.

Meanwhile the TSS/TOPAZ is pulled in by two tugboats to Don Diego 1 and is shore side at 9.30 a.m. Also here an order for 700 lbs. of tenderloin filet and 40 Gallons of Shampoo. At the last moment F&B manager Fabrizio Cerutti discovers that no meat has been delivered by the provider from Miami – 1000 Passenger are expected from England and next delivery is two days later in Tortola. "Hurry Kurt organize this for us. But the Price has to be right!!"

Now buy these items on a sunny Sunday morning!

In the air-conditioned Van Kurt hangs on the phone and calls his connections. One hour later it is clear for MS/ARKONA 50lbs Strawberry 20 lbs. Cherry Tomatoes; MS/ FLAMENCO shall receive 350 lbs. of Butter and 50 Gallons of ice-cream, and for TTS/TOPAZ 400 lbs. of premium Tenderloin filet has been found as well as the Shampoo.

"For me the most important in this business is the challenge. Find within hours on a Sunday the thing’s needed to comfort tourists visiting the Dominican Republic" explains Kurt Schollenberger. " For me there is never a "NO" always "I TRY" and over 80% we are successful, with the help of many Dominicans who aid us, to satisfy the needs of this tourist organizations."

During the Season 99/2000 SDQ-SHIPCHANDLER has provided for over 70’000 tourists first class Products of the Dominican Republic especially fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Fish, Milk, Yogurt and other items as bottled water and crackers.

"But this is not all" continues Schollenberger: " if a vessel is in need of repair of anything we are able to provide. Rewinding of Electro motors are done within a week, searching for electronic or freezer repair we have the people who are qualified. And if they need some thing special – we try to find it."

At 12 noon Kurt hurries back to Sans Souci to the MS/ARKONA. "Fantastic this floating bridge. It cuts my drive to five minutes from Don Diego" Here his people have delivered everything including Strawberry and cherry tomatoes. He seats himself comfortably in his van and ads to the invoice the extras; print it out and has it presented to the purchasing manager Thorsten Scholz.

At 1p.m. Kurt is again at Don Diego to supervise the delivery to MV/FLAMENCO who orders now 100 cases of bottled water, luckily there are 80 cases in the almacen and three helper rush with a driver in the new Daihatsu Truck to load and deliver.

Visit with the Crew of TTS/ TOPAZ, everything has been delivered to there satisfaction. "May I sign the invoices" Ivan Ivanov the inventory Manageer asks. Kurt makes the adjustments in his rolling office.

Now it is 5p.m. And Kurt tells me that he has to visit the Captain of the ferry MV/REGAL VOYAGER in order to find out what they need. Master Bjorn Peters welcomes us on the bridge and discusses with Kurt purchasing of vinyl tiles and steel plates to be delivered on next Tuesday. The Chief Engineer needs cotton rugs and overalls. Every thing is written in the agenda to be delivered in time.

"Now I am tired," says Kurt I’ll have a drink and go for a nice beauty rest"

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